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Folders, Review

Spyderco Chaparral® SLIPIT™ Birdeye Maple C152NLWDP – The Lucky Charm.

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The Chaparral series is quite unique in Spyderco’s catalog. Originally designed to showcase different handle materials on the same platform, it has evolved into a performance-driven tool for one simple reason: the blade stock is exceptionally thin.
That thinness means it cuts deep with minimal effort.

It is even thinner than the UKPK which is the thinnest of the SlipIt Family.
(“SLIPIT®” is Spyderco’s trademark name for non-locking folding knives.
These knives stay open through spring tension rather than a mechanical lock.)

2mm for the Chap and 2,5 for the UKPK.


I’ve owned the original carbon fiber version, and earlier this year I reviewed the Lightweight serrated model — still one of the most efficient “matter separators” you can carry in your pocket.
Now, thanks to the Spyderco Ambassador Program, I’ve had the great opportunity to test the Slipjoint Chaparral.

It’s worth pointing out that the Chaparral is far from an entry-level model. It’s the premium, Taiwanese-built sibling in the SlipIt family — and at about twice the price of most SlipIt knives, it clearly plays in a higher class.

And this is an eye candy:

You can notice that Spyderco even includes a transparent protector over the clip area to prevent the handle from the clip during transport.


The knife arrived sealed in a plastic bag, likely to protect the wooden handles from changes in humidity.
Made in Taichung, Taiwan, and shipped to Golden, Colorado, this precaution makes perfect sense — Golden’s dry climate has been known to affect wood scales before (as seen with their Bushcraft fixed blade).
The handles themselves are beautiful. Carrying a piece of wood in your pocket almost feels like carrying a good luck charm.


This is my first Spyderco folder with wooden scales, and I must say — it has real charm.


The knife comes with Spyderco’s standard wire clip, but I have swapped it out for the shorter clip used on the MicroJimbo, Lil’ Native, or Dragonfly — it’s more discreet and I wanted to do it before leaving any mark on the wood.

Here pictured with the Metropolitan and with the microclip mounted on.
A downside of the wire clip is that it can create a “hotspot”, or point of discomfort, when applying significant pressure.
That’s why I prefer that shorter clip cannibalized from another folder — it helps avoid this issue. When doing extended wood prep or cutting in the field, where downward force is applied, ergonomics really matter.

BTW the Metropolitan pictured above costs about half the price of the Chaparral, and while both fall into the same blade-length category, the Met’s blade is roughly 33% thicker. The Metropolitan’s M398 blade is impressive when it comes to edge retention, but the CTS-XHP used on the Chaparral has proven to be a reliable, all-terrain stainless steel that performs beautifully on that exceptionally thin blade stock. An M398 blade at just 2 mm thick would certainly be too brittle for practical use.

Here is the Chap pictured with the MicroJimbo, the UKPK, the Serrated Chap, the Wasp and the Roadie XL.

Now, about the mechanics:
The Chaparral SLIPIT specifically replaces the usual Chaparral’s back-lock with this “notch-joint” spring system. The Chaparral backlock is also unique in the Spyderco catalog as it get an hidden pin for zero vertical play .
Most Spyderco slipjoints close in two stages — first, disengaging the spring tension, then a mid-stop for safety.
Not the Chaparral. Once you disengage the spring, the blade flows smoothly all the way to the closed position.
(Compare that to the Manly Wasp (pictured in orange) or Comrade, which both have four distinct steps!)
That said, disengaging the blade on the Chaparral requires a bit of effort — which is actually a good thing, especially for whittling. Feeling a blade start to close while it’s wedged in wood is never pleasant.
I’ve had that experience with the beautiful COBOL, and it’s not something I’d want to repeat.
Compared to other SlipIt models, the Chaparral is not in the same range of spring tension. I was initially afraid the action might feel too soft.
It is not soft but noticeably less hard than my UKPK, Urban, Squeak or Metropolitan. My strongest being my Heinnie G10 Urban.

All in all, the Chaparral is a very capable tool — not just a pretty face.
While its aesthetics are undeniably strong (especially with those bird’s-eye maple scales), some users have raised concerns about the stability and durability of the wood in moist or wet environments.
Naturally, a wooden handle requires a bit of care — you don’t want to let it soak in the sink. (Buy a UKPK Salt instead !)
Wood isn’t G10 or FRN; its warmth and character come at a small cost in terms of maintenance and environmental sensitivity.
If you need something very rugged (wet/humid environments, rough carry), it might not be the best choice or you might pick a version with more durable scales.

And again, that blade stock is so super thin which makes it an incredible slicer. Opinel class ! You need to experience it to believe it.
That’s the case for all Chaparral anyway, nothing new about that.



The fit and finish is near perfect. Notice how the spine and handle are gently bevelled as always with Taichung’s !
This is little folder for users who prioritize slicing performance, sharpness, and elegance, the Chaparral SLIPIT is just appropriate for EDC/“gentleman, lady” use.
The non-locking SLIPIT mechanism is suited for jurisdictions (including Europe/UK) where locking blades may be restricted — that adds to its appeal.  If you want also a knife that carries lightly, looks premium, and doesn’t feel like a bulky tactical folder, this hits that niche. But you may want to treat its maple scales carefully and avoid heavy moisture.
I will rinse my Chap under the tap but immediately wipe it dry, this is as simple as that. I will see if wood will change on the long run and it will surely add some character. No worry.
The non-locking SLIPIT mechanism may not feel as secure as a lock-back, and the “no half-stop” means the feel is really different that other SlipIt designed by Sal Glesser.
Anyway any Chaparral will teach you a lesson on the importance of grind and thin geometry but this one will keep it legal in many countries.



If you’re seeking a precise, elegant everyday-carry folder with top-tier steel, superb slicing geometry, refined looks and minimal pocket presence — the Chaparral SLIPIT delivers strongly.
Oh boy does it slice, hell yes.
And it brings luck.

Review

Spyderco Chaparral C152SGY – For the Fierce and the Furious

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Like I had mentioned in the glimpse review of the Serrated Chaparral, this little, thin folder is built to punch above its weight. Thanks to its sturdy construction and relatively strong stainless steel — the same type found on my Cold Steel Recon 1 XL — it can be tested and used like a much larger knife without compromising performance.

Solid steel, sturdy lock? Not much difference from a larger knife, in fact. 😉

So far, I’ve put the knife through its paces, cutting anything I could, and maintaining the edge with some Jade stones (see first picture). The mechanism shows no signs of play in any direction — rock-solid performance.

The plastic is thicker that the blade.

As you can see, the serrated edge is a chisel grind, which means it tends to deviate slightly to the right of the material being cut, much like a fin in water. I started the cuts with a bit of sawing, then transitioned to push cuts, and the knife effortlessly sliced through the thick plastic used to form the bottle.

This little knife is fierce in term of cutting performance. It is a lot of power in your pocket ! It is a pocket chainsaw !

The serrations really shine on the plate. You can push the knife hard against ceramic surfaces, and if the points ever need a touch-up, a few passes on a ceramic corner — or in my case, a jade corner — brings them back like new.

I have been able to reach razor level just by passing gently the Jade on it.

Actually it is fun to enhance the edge.

Actually, this is a bit of a comeback for me with serrations, dating back to my AFCK experience 25 years ago. Back then, I mostly used partly serrated edges, which helped initiate cuts on hard materials.

With a fully serrated thin blade and no plain edge, I initially wondered how useful it would be in the kitchen — especially since my wife’s favorite knives are Victorinox fruit knives (serrated). But it turns out, neither fruits nor vegetables can withstand the sharp, wavy edge of the Chaparral.

Funny enough I have been able to strop the edge of the Chap by using the side of the leather belt. CTS XHP is a steel which loves leather in my experience.

All in all, so far, so good. The Chaparral delivers impressive cutting power. Its thin, fully serrated edge is unique within the Spyderco line, pushing the design out of its comfort zone — and for a “knifeaholic” like me, that’s pure fun.

The next step is to trust this little knife enough to take it on a road trip in Italy — handling food prep, wood, and low-profile carry as my only pocketed folder. The Chaparral will make its return in May.

Review

Spyderco Chaparral Serrated C152SGY- The Lightweight With Teeth.

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I’ve been an early adopter of the Chaparral. Nearly 13 years ago, I called it the “Extra Flat Companion” in my first review from 2012. Back then, the Chaparral was designed to serve as a platform to test different handle materials, while the Sage (another model “made in Taichung”) showcased various lock designs used in folders.

Twelve years later, Spyderco has introduced a major improvement to the Chap’s blade: their famous serrations. The brand is, of course, known for its Spyderhole, its clips, and… the performance of its serrated edges. Sal Glesser has long advocated the superior cutting performance of Spyderco’s sserrations. Scallops, moon quarters, and thin chisel geometry all work together to create the ultimate “matter separator,” making tough cutting tasks effortless.


Sal has refined his serrations into a recognized patterns and created the Spyderedge: “Spyderco’s two-step serration patterns consist of one large and two small serrations. The pattern increases the cutting edge’s surface area by up to 24%”.
On the Chaparral, the serration are even better as they are rounded to avoid snagging when cutting. Those same enhanced serrations can be found on another serrated folder made in Taichung for Spyderco: the LC200N made Caribbean.

I’am not a serration’s fan. I prefer a short convexed blade like my Roadie XL to EDC but this is the opportunity to pocket a serrated knife designed to be low profile folder easily displayed in the middle of the sheeples.

The Chaparral is another Lil’ Big Knife in disguise. Go figure, his lock is equipped with an hidden pin which gives a lot of strength and stability. This improved backlock is also found on the Sage 4 but do not worry about vertical play.


Also the Chaparral’s blade is only 2 mm thick. A razor blade with serrations ? It should be interesting !

It even has teeth on its handle. The FRN scales feel almost like shark skin, which can be tough on pockets. My first step was to temporarily remove the pocket clip, then sand the scales to smooth them out.

The FRN doesn’t react as quickly as G10 when sanded. I still ended up with a slightly toothy handle, but it’s much more acceptable to me. Of course, this is a matter of personal taste — many users will appreciate the aggressive grip the pattern provides. I, however, prefer not to carry a pocket shredder anymore.

Lately, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy knives I can carry in my denim watch pocket. The Roadie XL, which I can now flick open with a wrist, is the king of that pocket and I use it hard despite its small size.

But this little “Tooth Faerie”, the Serrated Chaparral, also demands heavy use — and beware of its cutting power! Its steel, CTS-XHP, is known for being extremely reliable, even on thin edges. I’ve used it in many knives, including some Cold Steel Voyager XLs, and it never disappoints.

It will be very interesting to see how the Chaparral Light platform, equipped with a top-performance factory edge and an improved backlock, performs as a true workhorse — pushing the envelope of what the Chap’ can do. Spyderco has also just released a Slipit (non-locking) Chaparral, sold at nearly double the price of the FRN serrated version. Clearly, this one isn’t marketed as a “precious” collectible but as a pure performance tool. Spyderco has supercharged the Chaparral to be a user’s knife.

To summarize:

  • 2 mm thick blade — this is thin !
  • Backlock enhanced with a hidden pin — zero vertical play !
  • Rounded, anti-snag SpyderEdge.
  • Sheeple-friendly design.
  • Made in Taiwan with attention to details.

Yes, the Chap is back… with teeth … in its next chapter:
“FOR THE FIERCE AND THE FURIOUS“